Somatic Experiencing® (SE) is a powerful, body-centered therapy developed by Dr. Peter Levine for addressing trauma, stress, and related conditions. Based on the idea that traumatic experiences often become physically embedded within the body, SE helps clients release trauma responses—especially the “freeze” reaction—through gentle, mindful awareness of bodily sensations
How Somatic Experiencing Works
- Bottom-Up Approach: Instead of focusing on thoughts or emotions first, SE begins with physical sensations—what you feel in your body. This helps safely access and process trauma deposits before moving to memory or cognition.
- Pendulation & Titration: Clients are guided between areas of discomfort and safety (“pendulation”), allowing gentle, tolerable movement through distress rather than overwhelming it.
- SIBAM Framework: SE practitioners observe and track Sensation, Imagery, Behavior, Affect, and Meaning to support gradual integration of trauma in the body.
Benefits of Somatic Experiencing
- Reduces Trauma Symptoms & PTSD: SE assists in discharging trapped freeze, fight, or flight responses, alleviating PTSD-like symptoms.
- Enhances Emotional Regulation: Increased body awareness helps you notice signs of stress and activate self-soothing before overwhelm goodtherapy.org.
- Rebuilds Resilience: Over time, SE supports adaptive nervous system responses and increased stress tolerance .
- Somatic Relief from Depression and Anxiety: Clients often experience symptom reduction in anxiety, depression, chronic pain, digestive problems, and insomnia healthline.com.
- Improves Mind–Body Connection: SE fosters reconnection between bodily sensations and emotional experiences—particularly helpful post-trauma verywellhealth.com.
Techniques Used in SE
- Body scans
- Tracking felt-sense
- Grounding exercises
- Breathing and movement-based awareness
- Guided visualization and gentle pendulation
These methods offer clients safe, gradual ways to process intense bodily sensations without retraumatization.
Who May Benefit Most?
SE is beneficial for:
- Survivors of trauma, including PTSD and developmental trauma
- Clients with depression, anxiety, chronic stress, chronic pain, or dissociation
- People seeking trauma-informed counseling that is gentle, gradual, and rooted in the body
It’s especially effective when used alongside other modalities like EMDR, CBT, or mindfulness-based approaches positivepsychology.com.
Why Choose SE at Linanna Therapy?
At Linanna Therapy, our trained therapists offer affordable therapy both in person in Coquitlam, Surrey and online across BC. We provide compassionate, trauma-informed counseling rooted in somatic principles for clients seeking deeper healing from:
- Trauma
- Stress and anxiety
- Depression
- Chronic pain or physical tension
Our goal is to support embodied healing, helping you feel grounded, integrated, and able to re-engage with life.
Getting Started with Somatic Experiencing
- Your practitioner will guide you through gentle body awareness exercises.
- You’ll gradually build resourcing skills for safety and calm.
- We’ll work together to traverse the trauma response cycle over several sessions, promoting ongoing healing and nervous system resilience.
SE is not quick-fix therapy—but offers deep, sustainable transformation when practiced safely with a skilled therapist.
Ready to Try SOMATIC EXPERIENCING?
If you’re seeking a personal therapist who offers body-centered trauma therapy, SE might be the right fit. Reach out to schedule a free 15-minute consultation and discover if this approach can support your path to healing.
